In Re: Corwin Teltschik

I'm probably going to be the only person on the planet that gives this story two cycles, but I have finally read the lawsuit. My readers know how much I like primary sources, and Courthouse News provides the goods.

I first wrote about this story yesterday, and Tex Parte Blog fairly characterized the substance of the case. Mr. Teltschik was the treasurer for Tom DeLay's PAC, ARMPAC. ARMPAC's law firm, Williams & Jensen, conceded to the FEC on Mr. Teltschik's behalf and without his knowledge that Mr. Teltschik had violated some campaign laws. This has caused harm to Mr. Teltschik's personal and professional reputation.

Blah, blah, blah. I don't care.

As Tex Parte Blog indicated, Christine DeLay personally asked Mr. Teltschik to accept the role of Treasurer at ARMPAC. Also, Mr. Teltschik's wife, Carolyn Teltschik is (or was at one time) the president of the DeLay Foundation for Kids Board of Directors. Edwin Buckham was also a Director at the DeLay Foundation and many of his Indian tribe clients donated to the charity. Any doubt on why I have said that DeLay Foundation "stinks to high heaven"? The Teltschiks aren't exactly clean. As the saying goes, "When you lay down with the dogs . . . "

The most puzzling part of the lawsuit is paragraph 29 on pages 13-14:

Also contained within the documents that [Williams & Jenson Managing Partner Robert] Martinez faxed to Plaintiff [Corwin Teltschik] was an email that purports to be from James W. Ellis, "Executive Director Americans for a Republican Majority - ARMPAC", dated April 20, 2004 and directed to [former Williams & Jenson attorney and former ARMPAC assistant treasurer Barbara Wixon] Bonfiglio. By this email, Ellis requested Bonfiglio to adjust the payroll figures to reflect the following monthly amounts: Jim Ellis - $9,000; Chris Perkins - $5,500; and Dani DeLay Ferro - $4,500. Ellis also requested some retroactive payments to the same individuals, to be handled via a lump sum payment. Plaintiff was not aware of these payments until November, 2006, and might not have approved same in the first instance.

My question from yesterday has been answered. Barbara Wixon Bonfiglio wrote checks for ARMPAC. I also find it highly unusual that Corwin Teltschik specifically mentions very few checks in his lawsuit. But Mr. Teltschik specifically refers to a check from ARMPAC to Dani DeLay Ferro and immediately suggests that he might not have approved the check if he had known about it. That tells me that Mr. Teltschik believes the check to Dani DeLay Ferro was improper in some way. Could the "retroactive" "payroll" payments have been a way to convert ARMPAC assets into the personal assets of Jim Ellis, Chris Perkins and Dani DeLay Ferro? Trust me, this isn't the last we've heard of this matter.

Also notice the timing of Mr. Teltschik's discovery of the check to Dani DeLay Ferro. It was November 2006, just nine months ago. The investigation into suspicious payments from ARMPAC to DeLay family members including Dani DeLay Ferro was well underway by then. I'm betting that Mr. Teltschik learned of the check to Dani DeLay Ferro when the Justice Department asked him about it. I don't think it is unreasonable to suggest that Mr. Teltschik is unhappy about that check. Mr. Teltschik is obviously disgruntled, and if he's telling the truth, his disgruntlement is justified. I just wonder how cooperative he's been with the Justice Department -- if he knows anything at all.

I have focused on the Abramoff side of this scandal to the detriment of the ARMPAC side. I need to make an appeal for information from people who have followed ARMPAC more closely than I have. And I need to start paying closer attention. I suggest that you do too, gentle reader.

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Update
June 1, 2008

I no longer believe it is possible that Mr. Teltschik learned of the "retroactive" "payroll" checks from the Justice Department. See explanation here.